The City of Southfield Building Department administers the building permit process for both residential and commercial construction. This fundamental process helps protect the lives and safety of residents and visitors, preserve the City’s quality of life, and contribute to its long-term economic viability.
Before Starting Construction
Any homeowner or builder that is planning to begin a building project – whether new construction, or modification or repair of an existing structure – needs to be aware that a building permit may be required before work can begin.
As a general guideline, any of the following activities will require a permit:
· any new construction, this includes additions to existing buildings
· construction involving a structural change to a building
· partial or complete rehabilitation of a property
· re-roofing or installing a new roof
Typical maintenance and repair projects that will not require a permit include:
· painting and caulking
· laying down vinyl sheet flooring & carpeting
· installation of new cabinets
· tuck-pointing
For further information, please call the Building Department at (248) 796-4100.
It is important to note that the City of Southfield ordinances and State of Michigan laws requires separate permits for electrical, plumbing and heating systems. Property owners should carefully review certificates of insurance and customer references provided by potential contractors to ensure they are qualified and licensed to perform this work.
New construction may require approvals from the following departments prior to a permit being issued.
Planning Department: (248) 796-4160
Engineering Department: (248) 796-4880
Building Department: (248) 796-4100
Water and Sewer Department: (248) 796-4850
Applicants are urged to submit complete plans and associated paperwork to all departments simultaneously to expedite the approval process.
How Many Sets of Plans?
The total number of plans required for the approval process are:
Two sets of building plans
7-8 sets of engineered site plans
Two sets of tree survey plans superimposed onto the engineered plans
Incomplete submissions to a department will not be reviewed until all information has been received.
No site work will be done until initial approvals are obtained from all four departments. A final Certificate of Occupancy will not be given until all requirements are met.
Zoning Board Appeals Approvals
Any approvals required from the Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) must be obtained prior to the issuance of a building permit. ZBA approvals are required for moving any structure into or within the City, or for any waiver required by an administrative body at the City. Obtain ZBA applications online or at the counter of the Building Department at Southfield City Hall, 26000 Evergreen Road (at Civic Center Drive).
Moving Existing Structures
Existing structures to be moved into or within the City require a special preliminary inspection from the Building Department; a house-moving permit from the Traffic Engineering Department; and additional clearances/permits coordinated through the Traffic Engineering Department, (248) 796-4860.
Placement of the structure on a lot requires a site plan and building plans, and building, electrical, plumbing, and mechanical permits.
For more information, call the Building Department, (248) 796-4100.
Certificates of Occupancy for Existing Spaces
The City of Southfield requires that all occupants of any building must first obtain a certificate of occupancy, before occupancy takes place. Furthermore, building permits are required for alteration work done on a building.
The procedure for obtaining a certificate of occupancy in an existing building is as follows:
- The first step is to get Planning Department zoning approval. In order to obtain this there must be an approved Site Plan on file, if there is not, you may have to provide one. Then the Planning Department will make an on-site inspection.
- When this has been granted, either a building permit or a Special Inspection must be obtained. A Special Inspection is performed to ensure that the building/suite is up to current building codes for egress and life safety. If the Special Inspection reveals there are violations for which corrections are required, they must be completed before a certificate of occupancy can be issued. If no violations exist and there is Planning Department approval, a certificate of occupancy will be issued. The cost for a special inspection is $60 per inspection and $150 for a certificate of occupancy.
- If a renovation is to take place, a building permit would have to be issued, and all work completed, as well as Planning Department approval, before a certificate of occupancy could be issued.
If you have any questions regarding these procedures, please contact the Building Department Specialist at (248) 796-4107.